Climate Justice Taranaki calls for changes to the consent process for oil and gas

Taranaki environmental activists want changes The call comes as OMV New Zealand Ltd, based in Austria, plans to drill nine exploration wells and three assessment wells, in waters between 102 m and 158 m depth, in its six permit areas in the Taranaki Basin, 2019 and 2025.

The company filed an application for a rejection permit with the Environmental Protection Authority in March and the bidding period ends on July 9th. Marine consent forms are required for all risks associated with drilling operations. In the exclusive economic zone, and in oil spill contingency plans, Judge Taranaki urges the EPA to hold public hearings on the demand for exploratory drilling from the US. OMV and to treat it together with all related applications

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* The Taranaki oil sector is preparing to abandon fossil fuel exploration [19659007] Because the wells were exploratory in nature and were 39, assessment, the application for marine consent for drilling would not be publicly notified and there would be no possibility of public submissions, said Catherine Cheung of Taranaki Climate Justice

to defer the treatment of consent to e discharge so that it can be evaluated together with drilling and other related applications, "she said.

"It is essential to assess the cumulative effects of all drilling and spilling activities on the environment, marine species, human health and existing interests, if the claims are treated separately." [19659006] Cheung said the law required consideration of cumulative effects. Joint processing of related applications

"We are not talking about one of the two wells, we are talking about the potentially disastrous risks and consequences of drilling 12 wells and dumping unspecified quantities of undisclosed harmful substances at sea. "

Dr. Lyndon DeVantier, Taranaki, climate judge, said that international experience had shown that there could be havoc. "New Zealand does not have enough on-site resources to quickly deal with a major incident that could affect much of the west coast of the North Island and the South Summit. The consent of the marine discharges would allow the OMV to dump minute amounts of harmful substances, such as offshore drainage, from bridge drains or from one or more mobile offshore drilling units. [19659006] An impact analysis report, included in the application, showed that there would be negligible effects on

Government regulation (exclusive economic zone) regulations The drilling of Exploration is an undeclared activity because it is a temporary activity with low impact on the environment.

                
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